Wildlife and disease
together we will put this knowledge to good use

Welcome to the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre

The purpose of the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre is to enhance knowledge and expertise in wildlife health in the Netherlands. This will serve to provide scientifically based information for political and practical decisions concerning public health, wild and domestic animal health, and nature conservation issues.

On our website you can find information about the sorts of disease found in wildlife in the Netherlands and abroad by searching in the disease or species pages.

You can report finding wildlife cadavers via the submission form on our website. For microscopic examination of these animals it is essential that the cadavers are in a fresh state i.e. not dead for more than one day; cadavers should not be frozen. It is therefore preferable to report your findings as soon as possible and to keep the cadaver in a cool (not frozen) place until it can be collected. After submitting your form you will be contacted by the DWHC who will advise you on how to package the cadaver and arrange collection of the package from your home or place of work.

More information about submitting a cadaver is available in the frequently asked questions.

Eurasian beaver DWHC ‘focus species’ 2023

Bever zittend op een tak in het water
Foto: Maaike Plomp

News

Dode jonge ooievaar

Again dead white stork with rubber bands

Dead white stork. Photo: Ferry Brands On 16 July 2023, an almost fully fledged white stork (Ciconia ciconia) was found under its nest in Megen, Noord-Brabant. Half an hour before the young was practising wing flapping. The stork was collected by the DWHC in Utrecht to investigate the cause of death.
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Roe deer with deer botfly

At the end of June 2023, a roebuck in the province of Limburg was put out of its misery and collected for research by the DWHC in Utrecht. The roebuck had swollen front legs, had difficulty standing, did not flee when approached and was shaking a little with his head (tremor).
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kokmeeuwen, eerstejaars op voorgrond en adult op achtergrond

Update on mortality in black-headed gulls

By now it is clear that there is an increased mortality in wild birds due to high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), mainly within populations of black-headed gulls. Halfway through February the DWHC and partner organizations published an article about the signs of this trend ( Read more
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